Diversity, equity, and inclusion in gastrointestinal endoscopy: European Society of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy Position Statement

Maria Pellisé; Alanna Ebigbo; Yasmijn J. van Herwaarden; Hannah van Malenstein; Ioannis S. Papanikolaou; Katarzyna M. Pawlak; Andrei M. Voiosu; Shimaa Afify; Asma Alkandari; Isis K. Araujo; Bidour Awadelkarim; Fabiana Benjaminov; Maria García Campos; Sridhar Sundaram; Konstantinos Triantafyllou; Andreea Vlad; Marianna Arvanitakis; Raf Bisschops; Cesare Hassan; Helmut Messmann; Ian M. Gralnek

doi:10.1055/a-2399-3226

Endoscopy, Table of Contents

Endoscopy 2024; 56(11): 870-881
DOI: 10.1055/a-2399-3226

Position Statement

Diversity, equity, and inclusion in gastrointestinal endoscopy: European Society of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy Position Statement

Maria Pellisé

¹Gastroenterology Department, Hospital Clinic de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain

²Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Hepáticas y Digestivas (CIBEREHD), Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS)

³Facultat de Medicina i Ciències de la Salud, Universitat de Barcelona (UB), Barcelona, Spain

,

Alanna Ebigbo

⁴Department of Gastroenterology, University Hospital Augsburg, Augsburg, Germany

,

Yasmijn J. van Herwaarden

⁵Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Radboud University Hospital, Nijmegen, The Netherlands

,

Hannah van Malenstein

⁶Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University Hospital Leuven, Leuven, Belgium

,

Ioannis S. Papanikolaou

⁷Hepatogastroenterology Unit, Second Department of Internal Medicine–Propaedeutic, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Attikon University General Hospital, Athens, Greece

,

Katarzyna M. Pawlak

⁸Endoscopy Unit, Hospital of the Ministry of Interior and Administration Szczecin, Poland

,

Andrei M. Voiosu

⁹Gastroenterology Department, Colentina Clinical Hospital, Bucharest, Romania

¹⁰Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Bucharest, Romania

,

Shimaa Afify

¹¹National Hepatology and Tropical Medicine Research Institute. Cairo, Egypt

,

Asma Alkandari

¹²Department of Gastroenterology, Al Jahra Hospital, Kuwait

,

Isis K. Araujo

¹Gastroenterology Department, Hospital Clinic de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain

,

Bidour Awadelkarim

¹³HPB Medicine, Freeman Hospital, Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, UK

,

Fabiana Benjaminov

¹⁴Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Meir Medical Center, Tel Aviv University, Israel

,

Maria García Campos

¹⁵Department of Gastroenterology, University and Polytechnic La Fe Hospital, Valencia, Spain

,

Sridhar Sundaram

¹⁶Department of Gastroenterology, Tata Memorial Hospital, Homi Bhabha National Institute, Mumbai, India

,

Konstantinos Triantafyllou

⁷Hepatogastroenterology Unit, Second Department of Internal Medicine–Propaedeutic, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Attikon University General Hospital, Athens, Greece

¹⁷Second Academic Department of Gastroenterology, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Greece

,

Andreea Vlad

¹⁸Bihor County Emergency Clinical Hospital, University of Oradea, Romania

,

Marianna Arvanitakis

¹⁹Department of Gastroenterology, Erasme University Hospital, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Brussels, Belgium

,

Raf Bisschops

²⁰Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University Hospitals Leuven, and TARGID, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium

,

Cesare Hassan

²¹Department of Biomedical Sciences, Humanitas University, Pieve Emanuele, Italy

²²Endoscopy Unit, Humanitas Clinical and Research Center–IRCCS, Rozzano, Italy

,

Helmut Messmann

⁴Department of Gastroenterology, University Hospital Augsburg, Augsburg, Germany

,

Ian M. Gralnek

²³Institute of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Emek Medical Center, Afula, Israel

²⁴Rappaport Family Faculty of Medicine Technion Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel

› Author Affiliations

Abstract

Statements

1 The European Society of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (ESGE) adheres to the overarching principles of equality of opportunity, fair treatment, nondiscrimination, and diversity of health care professionals.

2 ESGE strongly supports the creation of collaborations within and between national and international endoscopy societies to disseminate the principles of diversity, equality, and inclusion (DEI) in the field of gastrointestinal (GI) endoscopy.

3 ESGE aims to reflect the diversity of its membership in all its scientific and educational activities.

4 ESGE supports the fostering of collaborative work settings that empower all members of the endoscopy team to reach their full potential.

5 ESGE supports international and national endoscopy societies in promoting equitable access to high quality endoscopy training.

6 ESGE recommends the implementation of ergonomic principles in endoscopy units to prevent injuries and to provide adapted workplace conditions for personnel with disabilities and/or special needs.

7 ESGE recommends comprehensive mentorship, that includes diverse backgrounds, and equitable sponsorship for professional development, training, and academic excellence.

8 ESGE recommends that endoscopists actively identify, discuss, and attempt to accommodate reasonable patient preferences and expectations regarding endoscopy procedures.

9 ESGE advocates for educational and awareness campaigns targeting both health care professionals and patients, as well as the adoption of cost-effective health care strategies to address disparities and enhance equity in endoscopy care.

10 ESGE is committed to increasing support for underrepresented scholars and minorities pursuing research in endoscopy.

11 ESGE identifies mentorship and sponsorship as factors that may mitigate the barriers to academic careers for underrepresented endoscopy scholars.

12 ESGE recognizes the need to increase awareness of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in the field of endoscopy and supports publications on these topics.

Full Text

References

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Supplementary material